2026 Themes & Content Tracks

The SportsPro London key themes will strip away the hype and get to the heart of what’s actually happening, with our most straight-talking agenda yet. 

Check out the key topics we’ll be covering, and who you’ll hear from in our dedicated content tracks Backhand index pointing down

Sponsorship & marketing

How can sports become more valuable to top-tier brands again?

It’s not easy to get the attention of big brands in a saturated market, and anyone who says otherwise is lying to you.

Sponsorship & Marketing Track

Day 1 (29 April)

What's in store?

How do you build successful and measurable brand partnerships from the inside out?

More competition. Less budget to go around. The winners are those who can prove ROI beyond just logo placement. 

Top sessions to explore:

Meet the speakers:

Alexandra Stamidi

Head of Marketing, Greece
Uber

Nikolas Syrmalis

Partnerships Manager
Panathinaikos B.C.

Sam Carp

Head of Editorial
SportsPro

John Bergmann

Commercial Head, Sports & Corporate Events
ATPI

Deborah Wajsbrot

Associate Director, Head of Growth Partnerships
Revolut

Jamie Brooks

Sports Partnerships Lead, Guinness
Diageo

Liseli Sitali

Director Football & Music Partnerships
Expedia Group

Garrett Ponder

Head of Brand Partnerships and Activations
Snapdragon

Oliver Hicks

Senior Manager Global Sponsorships
Just Eat Takeaway

Brad Ross

Managing Director, Global Marketing Partnerships
Bank of America

Challenger sports

How can challenger sports cut costs and unlock revenue?

Industry growth isn’t trickling down – while elite sports enjoy constant sponsorship and ticketing demand, most others fight for visibility and momentum.

Challenger Sports Track

Day 2 (30 April)

What's in store?

Most sports organisations aren’t chasing hyper-growth at the top – they’re battling rising costs, stretched teams, and limited budgets in the middle of the market.

The Challenger Sports track offers a reality check and practical playbook for tier 2 and 3 rights holders to cut costs, unlock new revenue, and make smarter decisions with the resources they actually have.

Top sessions to explore:

Meet the speakers:

Ronan Joyce

Chief Business Officer
Salford City FC

Mark Devlin

CEO
Leyton Orient FC

Guido Betti

Chief Business Officer
Volleyball World

Charlie Beall

CEO
Saracens

Rob Stull OLY

President
Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM)

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

Which “shiny” tools are actually delivering results?

The greatest impact of technology is improving efficiency and reducing costs -not chasing hail-mary innovations that rarely work.

Technology & Innovation Track

Day 1 (29 April)

What's in store?

Technology promises revolutionise every corner of sport – but most organisations struggle to turn tech into actual revenue.

The Technology & Innovation Track cuts through the hype, revealing where sports tech delivers real value and how to break down monetisation barriers with AI implementation, personalised fan revenue, and data-driven ticketing.

Top sessions to explore:

Meet the speakers:

Stuart Fenton

Head of AI
Reading FC

Chris Pierson

Founder & CEO
BlackCloak

Stefan Lavén

CEO & Founder
Data Talks

Claudio Demmer

Business Innovation Lead
VFL Wolfsburg

Thanks to our Track Partners

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media

How do you get maximum value out of your content and live events?

With more platforms and more competition for attention, sports faces both opportunities and challenges to stay relevant and drive revenue.

Media Track

Day 2 (30 April)

What's in store?

Sports media is fragmenting fast – stagnant broadcast deals, plateauing social metrics, and fans scattered across platforms while creators seize live rights.

The Media Track decodes what works: content strategies, distribution mastery, and monetisation tactics for rights negotiators, social leads, and emerging sports platforms.

Top sessions to explore:

Meet the speakers:

Lydia Fairfax

Founder
Triple Crown Consulting

Chris Stone

Community Lead
SportsPro

Ryan Beebe

VP Global Sales
Backlight

Michael Broomfield

VP, Media Management and Delivery
LIV Golf

Matthew Kyle

Head of Insights
Engage Digital Partners

Chris Sadd

Senior Director
MTM

David Gibbs

SVP Product Management
Warner Bros. Discovery

Revenue & commercial models

Which new revenue streams are really worth the time and effort?

Many “needle-moving” ideas have come and gone – sports must focus on its core business and accept there’s no magical pot of money at the end of the rainbow.

Revenue & Commercial Track

Day 2 (30 April)

What's in store?

Sport grows at 7% CAGR, yet most organisations leave revenue untapped by failing to convert attention into cash across overlooked functions like ticketing, hospitality, betting, and subscriptions.

The Revenue & Commercial Track pinpoints those gaps and reveals how to build diversified models that connect engagement with real income.

Top sessions to explore:

Meet the speakers:

Lorenzo Ceretto

Global Head of Sport
Fever

Anni Hofer

Senior Event Marketing Lead
PACE AG

Kayleigh Grieve

Women's Football Marketing & Sponsorship
UEFA

Max Hamilton

Executive Commercial Director
European Tour Group

James Dunkley

Team Principal
Majesticks GC

WOMEN'S SPORTS

Which commercial approach is really the best?

Women’s sports is growing fast, but it must build for the modern era – not replicate outdated legacy models.

Women's Sport Track

Day 2 (30 April)

What's in store?

Women’s sport is at an inflection point – with audiences surging and revenues accelerating faster than men’s sport, yet billions in untapped potential still on the table.

Gain the strategies, connections, and clarity to bridge the monetisation gap and unlock new commercial opportunities. 

Top sessions to explore:

Meet the speakers:

Jo Osborne

Head of Women’s Sport
Sky Sports

Adrian Farina

Co-Founder, Marketing & Commercial Lead
Crux Football

Beth Barrett-Wild

Tournament Director - ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026
ECB

Rosie Spaulding

President
LOVB Pro

Bex Smith

CEO
Crux Football